Author: Monojit Mandal
The Los Angeles Lakers have opted not to exercise the $16.5 million buyout option on point guard Malik Beasley’s contract for the upcoming 2023-24 season, signaling the organization’s intention to revamp its roster. Beasley is transferring again after spending the last two seasons in three different organizations.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers have expressed a desire to keep in touch with Beasley’s representative, keeping the door open for a possible new contract later this summer. This development demonstrates the Lakers’ desire to keep the 26-year-old point guard.
Beasley was acquired by the Lakers from the Utah Jazz just before last season’s trade deadline in exchange for star Russell Westbrook. Before that, he was part of the Rudy Gobert trade, which transferred him from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Utah Jazz during the summer of 2022.
Beasley played 26 regular season games for the Lakers, 14 of them as a starter. He averaged 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, as well as demonstrating his ability to shoot from beyond the arc (35.3%). The Lakers finished seventh in the playoffs, but their participation was interrupted by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. Beasley played a minimal role in the playoffs, averaging 3.0 points in 8.3 minutes over 11 games.
Beasley, who is entering his sixth season in the NBA, has established himself as a reliable shooting guard capable of providing crucial depth. He has a scoring average of 10.8 points and a three-point shooting percentage of 37.8%. Beasley’s ability to score, both as a point shooter and as a self-creator, made him a valuable player everywhere he played.
Beasley, who is 6’10”, is known for his ability to hit three-point shots, with a career average of 37.3%. He had several games in which he made 10 or more three-point shots. What’s more, his offensive skills go beyond shooting, as he can build his own shot off the dribble.
Beasley’s youth and untapped talent indicate that he has the potential to become an even more prominent player in the future. His ability to shoot three-pointers could make him an attractive prospect for clubs looking for offensive firepower as a good scorer with the ability to spread the floor.